16th Mar 2007, 10:40

The local used car ads here are full of 2 and 3 year old Priuses. That usually indicates the owner has a good reason to sell them. I've talked to 2 Prius owners who were faced with battery replacements in less than 36 months.

16th Mar 2007, 11:57

Having been stuck with a 2006 Camry LE V-6 for a year, I won't be buying another Toyota. I've been to the dealership about once a month on average for something. Service is awful, and it has taken 2 or 3 trips to get a problem fixed. My car is not a Hybrid, but now that I know Toyota is less than honest in all their claims I only hope you aren't being badly misled. Everyone I know says the hybrid batteries are no good after 4 years tops and cost $5000 to replace. That was why I didn't get a hybrid. Frankly, I'm very sorry I got any Toyota product.

21st Mar 2007, 16:36

I was just watching a TV news clip here in Canada about Toyotas battery warranty. Our Federal government just introduced a budget that provides a $2,000 tax credit towards the purchase of hybrid vehicles and one of the main concerns was how long batteries last.

There is a lot of concern here about replacement battery costs especially in colder parts of the country. According to the news clip, Toyotas battery warranty in Canada is ten years for 2007 model years onward only.

So, it may be true that there are earlier model years that have a shorter battery warranty period, The simple thing to do is ask a dealer, warranty coverage differs between Canada and the U.S., I'd be interested to know what the U.S warranty coverage is on older model years.

28th Mar 2007, 19:20

The very expensive batteries for the hybrids can in NO WAY last 10 years. That is ludicrous. In 4 or 5 years Toyota (and Honda) are going to have a lot of very angry and disillusioned customers clamoring for new batteries.

29th Mar 2007, 08:40

1st Apr 2007, 17:05

To 8.40 Yes, you are right in regards to new vehicle buyers, but, I wonder how popular these vehicles will be eight to ten years into the battery warranty period. Personally, I don't think that future battery technology will help reduce the cost of replacing current design batteries regardless of what's available ten years down the road.

Hopefully future alternative fuel as well as combustion and magnetic engine technology will circumvent the need for batteries, but in the mean time we're being offered these vehicles as a stop gap solution, although a potentially expensive solution to vehicle buyers.

Toyota's Camry Hybrid is a short term approach offering. The potential hazards common to battery function are very much evident such as acid and gaseous contaminations as well as fire and explosion. These hazards can be exponential should owners neglect to maintain the vehicle and especially the batteries.

These and other considerations will help determine the end use cost of owning a battery Hybrid and the relative value in ten years.

15th Nov 2011, 00:01

This site is flooded with bogus reviews and comments trying to discredit Toyota Hybrid cars. "In our area"... Why cannot you be more specific? Because people could verify that? Toyota Hybrids (except the plug-ins) have NiMH batteries. Those type of batteries will last a long time provided they are of good quality to begin with. There are fleets of Prius cars being tested with detailed records since 2000 or so, and there have been to issues with the batteries. I have a 14 year old NiMH battery by Sanyo that was not maintained properly, and it still holds over 50% of its charge. The electronics controlling the battery in Toyota Hybrids ensures the battery is never fully charged or discharged in order to greatly extend its life.